As interest in county histories began to flourish in the mid-nineteenth century, John Hodgson's History of Northumberland (RCINs 1140014-9) became very influential despite it having incurred a loss on its initial publication. The work had remained unfinished on Hodgson's death in 1845 but he left over 100 volumes of detailed notes and in 1858, John Hodgson-Hinde used these to publish an introduction to the work. This book provides a general history of the county.
In the 1890s, the Northumberland County History Committee was set up to finish a full county history, covering places that Hodgson’s published works had missed. This history was published in 15 volumes between 1893 and 1940 and, as a result of its comprehensive scholarship, Northumberland remains the only county not to have its history published by the Victoria County History (see RCINs 1140049-63).